Background
Atkinson, Henry was born in 1782 in North Carolina, United States.
Atkinson, Henry was born in 1782 in North Carolina, United States.
He was a native of Person County, North Carolina. He entered the army in 1808 as a captain in the infantry, serving at various outposts on the Western frontier. He moved to New York and was promoted to colonel in the Regular Army, seeing considerable action during the War of 1812.
He commanded the 6th United States. Infantry from 1815 until his death.
After the war, Atkinson led two expeditions to the Yellowstone River in 1819 and 1825. At that time, there was still rivalry with British traders on the upper Missouri.
The treaties acknowledged that the tribes lived within the United States, vowed perpetual friendship, and recognized the right of the United States to regulate trade, promising to deal only with licensed traders. The tribes agreed to forswear private retaliation for injuries and to return or indemnify the owner of stolen horses or other goods.
Efforts to contact the Blackfoot and the Assiniboine were unsuccessful.
Returning to Fort Atkinson at the "Council Bluff" in Nebraska, successful negotiations were had with the Ota, the Pawnee and the Omaha. He was appointed brevet brigadier general and was in overall command of United States. forces during the Black Hawk War. Although he delivered the final blow to the Black Hawk Indians at the Battle of Bad Axe, Atkinson was criticized for mishandling the operations of the war and his reputation did not prosper as did those of his subordinates Zachary Taylor and Henry Dodge.
The City of Fort Atkinson in Jefferson County, Wisconsin is also named after him.
Jefferson Barracks (near Street Louis) and Fort Leavenworth were begun under his direction. He spent the remainder of his career stationed at Jefferson Barracks.
Fort Atkinson, Iowa, a town in Iowa
Fort Atkinson State Preserve, 1840s United States. Army post in Fort Atkinson, Iowa
Fort Atkinson (Nebraska), 1820s United States. Army post in Nebraska
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, a city and fort in Wisconsin.